1. Policy Statement

EmpowerSafe Space is committed to ensuring that all individuals—adults, children, and young people—who access our community-based domestic abuse support services are protected from harm, abuse, and exploitation.

With over 30 years of professional experience across health, social care, mental health, and learning disabilities, our leadership embeds a trauma-informed, zero-tolerance approach to abuse. We believe that everyone has the right to live free from fear, and we actively champion safeguarding as a shared, community-wide responsibility.

2. Scope

This policy applies to everyone working on behalf of EmpowerSafe Space, including the founder, trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, and students.

3. Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy, and guidance that seeks to protect vulnerable adults and children in England, including but not limited to:

  • The Care Act 2014
  • The Domestic Abuse Act 2021
  • The Children Act 1989 and 2004
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (Updated Guidance)
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
  • The Equality Act 2010
  • Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR)

4. Core Safeguarding Principles

We align our practices with the six principles of adult safeguarding set out in the Care Act 2014:

  1. Empowerment: People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.
  2. Prevention: It is better to take action before harm occurs.
  3. Proportionality: The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
  4. Protection: Support and representation for those in greatest need.
  5. Partnership: Local solutions through services working with their communities.
  6. Accountability: Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.

5. Specific Considerations for EmpowerSafe Space

Given our unique service delivery model, our staff and volunteers are trained to recognize and address specific safeguarding vulnerabilities:

5.1. Faith and Cultural Sensitivity

We recognize that in some communities, cultural stigma and spiritual expectations are used to silence survivors. We identify Spiritual Abuse and Faith-Based Coercion as distinct safeguarding concerns. We are committed to separating spiritual belief from abusive behavior, ensuring that individuals can disclose abuse without fear of spiritual judgment. However, cultural or religious beliefs will never be accepted as a justification for abuse or a reason to bypass statutory safeguarding duties.

5.2. Neurodiversity and Additional Needs

EmpowerSafe Space provides fully inclusive support. We recognize that autistic individuals and those with learning disabilities face a statistically higher risk of abuse and may experience significant communication barriers when attempting to disclose it. Our team applies reasonable adjustments, communication-sensitive support, and specific vulnerability risk assessments to ensure neurodivergent survivors are thoroughly safeguarded.

6. Types of Abuse

Staff and volunteers must be vigilant to all forms of abuse, including:

  • Domestic Abuse: Psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse, and coercive control.
  • Physical Abuse: Hitting, slapping, pushing, or misuse of medication.
  • Emotional/Psychological Abuse: Intimidation, threats, humiliation, or isolation.
  • Sexual Abuse: Any non-consensual sexual act or exploitation.
  • Financial/Material Abuse: Theft, fraud, coercion regarding financial affairs.
  • Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking.
  • Discriminatory Abuse: Harassment based on race, gender, disability, or faith.

7. Roles and Responsibilities

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Joke Olonode.

The DSL is responsible for:

  • Overseeing all safeguarding concerns and risk assessments.
  • Ensuring policies are kept up-to-date with local multi-agency safeguarding hubs (MASH) in Havering, Barking & Dagenham, and Essex.
  • Making formal referrals to Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, or the Police.
  • Ensuring all staff and volunteers undergo regular safeguarding training and Enhanced DBS checks.

8. Responding to and Reporting Concerns

If a staff member, volunteer, or partner has a safeguarding concern about an adult or child, they must follow these steps:

  1. Ensure Immediate Safety: If the individual is in immediate danger or a crime is in progress, dial 999 to contact the Police or Ambulance service.
  2. Listen and Reassure: Listen carefully to the disclosure without asking leading questions. Do not promise absolute confidentiality (see Section 9). Reassure the individual that they were right to speak up.
  3. Record: Write down exactly what was said using the individual’s own words as soon as possible. Record dates, times, and factual observations.
  4. Report: Report the concern immediately to the DSL (Joke Olonode). Do not investigate the matter yourself.
  5. Referral: The DSL will review the concern and, where the threshold is met, make a formal referral to the appropriate local authority safeguarding team or the police.

9. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

We respect the confidentiality of our service users. However, safeguarding overrides confidentiality.

Information will be shared with external statutory agencies (e.g., Police, Social Services) without the individual’s consent if:

  • A child or vulnerable adult is at risk of significant harm.
  • There is a risk of harm to the public.
  • A serious crime has been or is going to be committed.
  • We are legally compelled to do so by a court order.

Service users will be informed of our confidentiality boundaries during their initial assessment.

10. Safer Recruitment

EmpowerSafe Space operates a rigorous safer recruitment process. All staff, volunteers, and trustees who have direct contact with vulnerable adults or children must undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before commencing their roles.

11. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there are changes in national legislation or local safeguarding arrangements in Havering, Barking & Dagenham, or Essex.